Blues have taken seven of eight points under Montgomery, going 3-0-1; Buchnevich, Faulk each questionable; Binnington expected to start, reach another milestone; St. Louis looking to make it five straight wins in Calgary
The St. Louis Blues (12-12-2) continue their four-game road trip today -- starting off on the right foot on Tuesday -- when they take on the Calgary Flames (13-9-4) at 8 p.m. (FDSNMW, ESPN 101.1-FM).
The Blues, 3-0-1 since coach Jim Montgomery replaced Drew Bannister on Nov. 24, will look to make it nine points out of 10 and keep climbing up the Western Conference standings.
The team held an optional morning skate and one day after officially being named to Canada's roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off along with Colton Parayko, Jordan Binnington is expected to get the start and it would be his 300th appearance in an NHL game.
Forward Pavel Buchnevich, who has missed the past two games with a lower-body injury, and defenseman Justin Faulk, who missed Tuesday's 4-1 win against the Winnipeg Jets with an upper-body injury, each participated in Thursday's skate but Montgomery said he would know more on the status of each player in the afternoon.
If one or either are able to play, the lineup -- aside from Binnington starting -- isn't expected to change.
The Blues are allowing a league-low 1.50 goals per game since Montgomery's arrival and are also the only team in the league in that span with a perfect penalty kill (10-for-10).
With an assist Tuesday, Brayden Schenn, who is tonight's player to watch, became the 14th player in Blues history to record 400 points (155 goals, 245 assists) in his 533rd game.
Dylan Holloway is on a four-game point streak (four goals, three assists).
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Blues Projected Lineup:
Brandon Saad-Robert Thomas-Jake Neighbours
Dylan Holloway-Brayden Schenn-Jordan Kyrou
Mathieu Joseph-Oskar Sundqvist-Zack Bolduc
Alexey Toropchenko-Radek Faksa-Nathan Walker
Philip Broberg-Colton Parayko
Ryan Suter-Matthew Kessel
Pierre-Olivier Joseph-Scott Perunovich
Jordan Binnington will start in goal; Joel Hofer will be the backup.
The healthy scratch will be Alexandre Texier. Pavel Buchnevich (lower body) and Justin Faulk (upper body) are questionable; and Nick Leddy (lower body) is out. Torey Krug (ankle) is out for the season.
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Flames Projected Lineup:
Jonathan Huberdeau-Nazem Kadri-Martin Pospisil
Yegor Sharangovich-Mikael Backlund-Matt Coronato
Blake Coleman-Connor Zary-Walker Duehr
Jakob Pelletier-Kevin Rooney-Ryan Lomberg
Kevin Bahl-Rasmus Andersson
MacKenzie Weegar-Daniil Miromanov
Jake Bean-Brayden Pachal
Dan Vladar will start in goal; Dustin Wolf will be the backup.
Healthy scratches include Andrei Kuzmenko, Tyson Barrie and Joel Hanley. Justin Kirkland (lower body) is out for the season.
